UTMB News and Announcements

UTMB nurse practitioner Ruth Diamampo Jetty sits at a computer in a clinical exam room, smiling at the camera. She wears a dark jacket over scrubs and has a stethoscope around her neck.

How poor sleep undermines women's weight, mood, and memory in midlife

September 9, 2026 • 8:39 a.m. by Katherine Adams

Many women accept poor sleep as a normal part of midlife, but chronic sleep deprivation can affect weight, memory, mood, and overall health. UTMB Health nurse practitioner Ruth Jetty says prioritizing sleep is essential to improving physical and emotional well-being.

A group of seven healthcare professionals stands together in a hospital hallway, posing for a group photo. The group includes four men and three women, dressed in a mix of professional and casual attire.

What palliative care really means for patients with serious illness

September 8, 2026 • 8:51 a.m. by Katherine Adams

Palliative care is not end-of-life care. It can begin at any stage of a serious illness, alongside curative treatment, to help manage symptoms and improve quality of life. UTMB palliative care specialist Dr. Moustafa El Sayed explains how the specialty supports the whole person and helps patients and families navigate serious illness, treatment decisions, and difficult conversations.

An older man walks from his bedroom to a brightly lit bathroom during the night, illustrating nighttime bathroom trips associated with an enlarged prostate.

You don't have to live with enlarged prostate symptoms

September 7, 2026 • 1:33 p.m. by Katherine Adams

BPH is a common, treatable condition in men that can cause frequent urination, interrupted sleep, and other symptoms that interfere with daily life. Medications and minimally invasive procedures offer effective treatment options, and men do not have to accept bladder symptoms as a normal part of aging.

A woman stands at a workstation in a medical exam room, entering information into a computer beside medical equipment. The clinical setting includes an exam sink, cabinets, blood pressure monitor, and other patient-care supplies.

Midlife sleep problems might point to apnea

September 3, 2026 • 8:03 a.m. by Katherine Adams

Sleep apnea can affect women differently than men, with midlife symptoms such as fatigue, insomnia, headaches, mood changes, and night sweats often mistaken for menopause. Recognizing the signs and seeking an evaluation can lead to effective treatment, better sleep, and improved overall health.

Dr. Laura Porterfield and Christen Walcher, MPAff, stand side by side in a primary care clinic at UTMB Health. The pair collaborated on research published in Annals of Family Medicine examining the paradoxes of integrating social care into primary care.

UTMB Health physician explores the complex realities behind social care in primary care

September 2, 2026 • 2:57 p.m. by Katherine Adams

A UTMB family medicine physician is helping reshape how healthcare addresses social needs. New research explores surprising paradoxes in social care — and why embracing complexity could lead to better outcomes for patients and providers.

Clinician places a small vial on an exam table beside four color-coded vials while a seated patient looks on in an examination room.

Allergy shots: A long-term solution for lasting relief

September 1, 2026 • 8:39 a.m. by Margaret Battistelli Gardner

Instead of simply managing symptoms season after season, immunotherapy works to retrain the immune system and reduce the overall allergic response. For many patients, that means fewer sick days, better sleep, less medication, and more freedom to enjoy daily life.